Our chosen charity

About First Day Shoe Fund (from website):

First Day Shoe Fund (FDSF) is a local, grassroots initiative whose mission is to provide a unique service to children in the Kalamazoo area by distributing new shoes throughout the school year. Valerie Denghel, Founder, realized this need through her work in Kalamazoo Public Schools (KPS). Since many families are unable to purchase new shoes, many students are forced to wear shoes that are the incorrect size, tattered, or worn. First Day Shoe Fund believes that every child should start school on equal footing, and distributes a new pair of properly fitting athletic shoes to those students in need. The goal is to help these students and ensure they have adequate footwear to succeed in the school year.

Who Is Eligible For New Shoes?

Students who qualify for free or reduced price lunch, as set by the federal government, are eligible to receive shoes from FDSF. Shoes are ordered and distributed through participating Kalamazoo County elementary schools.

First Day Shoe Fund has delivered more than 33,000 pairs of shoes to local children in our first decade of existence. With your help, we can do even more in the coming years.

At the beginning of each school year First Day Shoe Fund provides one new pair of athletic shoes to children who qualify for free or reduced price lunch, as set by the federal government and attend school at a participating Kalamazoo County elementary schools.

In 2018, that meant 4,751 children received our shoes – but we know there is a lot more need in Kalamazoo County.

We want all children to experience the best that school can offer them. New shoes help foster self-esteem, prevent bullying, allow students to participate in sports, and fulfill a basic need that parents may not be able to afford.

OUR SCHOOLS

Students attending the following elementary schools will receive sign up forms during the first week of school in September. Families should return these forms complete with student name and desired shoe size and gender. Shoes will be delivered a few weeks later to the child’s classroom: